title: Dietary intakes of police department employees in a wellness program.
abstract: A 12-month nutrition program was developed and implemented as a project of the Wellness Department of the Austin Police Department (APD). Forty APD employees began the program; 24 completed the dietary portion of the study. A comparison of 7-day dietary intakes recorded before and after the program indicated a decrease in energy intake from a mean of 2,273 +/- 694 kcal/day to 1,379 +/- 364 kcal/day (p less than .001). Percentage of energy from protein increased from 16% to 21% (p less than .001), and energy from fat decreased from 42% to 36% (p less than .05). Percentages of energy from carbohydrate and alcohol were not significantly different from the beginning to the end of the study. Daily intakes of cholesterol decreased from 405 +/- 188 mg/day to 295 +/- 132 mg/day (p less than .05). Phosphorus and iron intakes decreased significantly (p less than .01 and p less than .001, respectively), while intakes of calcium remained constant. Mean consumption of thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin decreased significantly (p less than .01, p less than .05, and p less than .01, respectively). The changes in vitamin A and ascorbic acid intakes were not significant. Results indicated that a nutrition education program can effect positive changes toward better food choices. However, dietitians working with similar populations should stress eating patterns that include foods dense in micronutrients.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas, Austin 78712.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Briley
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blewett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015930:Diet Records; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D012926:Social Control, Formal; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D014815:Vitamins